Tire-armor.



w. J. BELYEA TIRE ARMOR. unieuro! r'lmn un. 15, 1906.

Patented July 6 JLNVENTo/a WELL/Manu BELYEA W/TNESSES WELLINGTON J. BELYEA, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGN.

TIRE-ARMOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, v1909.

. Application led September 15, 1906. Serial No. 334,718.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WELLINGTON J. BEL- YEA, a citizen of the United States, and a A'resident of Port Huron, in the county of St.

` be used on rubber tires of other vehicles, the

object being to provide an armor that may be readily placed over a tire and absolutely protect the same from wear or abrasion, and also enable the use of a brake directly to the tread of the wheel.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of a series of segments laced on sustaining cables or wires embracing lthe rubber tire.

My invention consists further in certain novel features of cpnstruction, arran ement and combination of parts as will be ereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompa-` ynying drawing,

in which,

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of an automobile wheel with my improvements applied. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a rim and tire with the armor applied. Fi 3 is a plan view of a section of my armor. ig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the segments.

In carrying out my invention I use a suflicient number of thin segments of metal or other suitable material and of substantially I the shape shown in Fig. 4; each segment is provided with holes a, a near each end; the segments are placed as shown in Fig. 3 the inner ends overlappin so that the ho es a register andfthrougi t ese holes is passed a steel` cable or hoop the said inner ends of the segments resting on the tread of thetire C; the outer ends of the segments rest on the sides of the tire and through the openings a are passed the flexible rods or hoops D; as the inner ends of the segments overlap there will naturally be a space between each two se ments at the outer end or where the rods I) pass through them; this space I fill by placlng Washers A between the adfcent se 'ments and mounted on the rods It wil be noticed` that the diameter of vthe rings formed by the rods D is of less' diameter than the central cable B which sustains the inner overlapping ends of' the segments so that a cover or guard having its inner face substantially convex and fitting the tire is formed.

It Will be noticed that none of the segments can move without taking the others with it, and that each of the segments at the bottom of the tire, or the part resting on the ground will be held in place by the cable or hoo B which passes entirely around the tire. l en the portion of the tire bearing on the sections on the ground is flattened out, so as to fill the spaces marked :c x, there can be no further expansion in that direction and the tire will then expand at the exposed part between rods D and the wooden rim.

From the above it will be seen that I provide an armor that will prolong the life of a rubber tire, first by preventing punctures and secondly by preventing Wear on the tread of the tire, and that it will retain all the elasticity of the tire, and that it will give a much firmer griponthe ground than the ordinary rubber tire so as to prevent slipping; furthermore the armor will permit the use of a brake directly on the surface of the tire, which is believedto be of considerable advanage over the ordinary axle brakes now use While I prefer to use thin steel segments on account of their lightness and strength, yet it is obvious that other materials which may be found suitable may be used. I also prefer to use a flexible steel cable or cord for the central hoop B, and the outer hoops are preferably of flexible steel wire or rings; the whole when properly assembled forms a com lete sheath, which will be held to the tire y the inflation of the same; that is, the sheath is laced on the wheel while the tire is deflate'd the tire is then inated, whereupon the sheath will be heldfirmly in place.

I claim- 1. An armor for elastic tires consisting of' an endless sheath comprising relatively thin bent plates arranged transversely of the tread of the tire and having their inner ends overlappin and pivotally joined together, the inner e ges of the overlapping ends being struck on arcs of the sameradius whereby said inner edges are coextensive and the central portions of said plates curved outwardly, whereby a space is left between the centers of the plates and the inclosed tire, and endless hpops passing through the outer ends of the ates. i p 2. An armor for elasticvtires lconsisting of a sheath comprising relatively thin transversely disposed metal plates, placed side by side and resting on one edge on the tire, the outer edge of the plates being curved and the inner ends overlapping7 an endless lexible hoop passing through the overlapped ends, the inner edges of the overlapped ends ofthe plates which rest on the tread of the tire belng 0n arcs of the same radius whereby said inner edges will be coextensive, flexible hoo the ps passing through the free outer ends of 10 metal plates and spacing washers fitted on said flexible hoops 0n each side of each plate.

WELLINGTON J. BELYEA Witnesses 

